Castlevania Harmony of Despair

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is Here and It's Time to Grab Your Friends

B-

Aug 12, 2010 2:08AM PST

Who isn't a fan of Castlevania really. If you're not, don't fret! Because for 1200 Microsoft points, you can easily become one and instantly get hooked on this 2D multiplayer and singleplayer created by Konami. The release date was set on August 4th 2010 excusively for the XBOX Live Arcade so hurry in on the fun.

So what do you say? Let's take a look at this in full view people.

Pluses

New multiplayer feature for up to 5 to 6 players.

Run amuck in 6 different castle levels.

Choose from a variety of familiar Castlevania characters such as Charlotte Aulin, Shanoa, Soma Cruz, Jonathon Morris, and of course, Alucard.

Challenging but rewarding battles against bosses and opponents.

Large array of weapons and other assets that don't necessarily level you up, but it does make you have a large inventory of useful items.

If you do manage to die, then don't fuss! You will be granted the opportunity to retrieve more items and money to buy weapons, etc.

Items you find in the multiplayer or singleplayer setting can aid you in either mode.

Minuses

Once you die, you die. You have no extra lives and you must begin over from scratch (which does tend to upset us gamers a wee bit).

The moment your teammates die, you can heal them with 'Water of Life' but you must readily retrieve them and hope they spawn within your range, otherwise they will respawn in another area of the castle making it difficult to defeat enemies and or the boss.

You must defeat the boss within a designated time limit.

The time limit doesn't stop when you pause the game, so time is literally precious to you and your team.

Overall

The mechanics of this game aren't too spectacular nor are the graphics overwhelming, but hey, look at it this way. It's a classic Castlevania title that is without a doubt, a favorite among the hardcore fans due to its re-playable modes and addicting gameplay.